Deputy party chairman lee Anderson poised to defy chancellor in crunch votes

In a fresh twist for Chancellor Rishi Sunak, Deputy Conservative Party Chairman Lee Anderson appears ready to challenge the government’s stance on the contentious Rwanda Bill. Over 50 MPs, including Anderson, have publicly aligned themselves with amendments aiming to bypass international law and prevent migrants from impeding their deportations through individual appeals.

While Mr. Anderson has refrained from commenting directly, sources close to the rebellion suggest that he is likely to support the proposed changes if selected by Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle.

Despite the strong backing, the amendments face an uphill battle, lacking support from the Labour party. The true litmus test, however, awaits at the third reading, where rebels may take the drastic step of rejecting the entire Bill.

Warning shots have already been fired by three influential figures on the Tory right – Mark Francois, Sir John Hayes, and Danny Kruger – who have informed the Prime Minister that they could vote against the Bill unless their demands are met.

Adding to the complexity, moderate Tories within the One Nation group are poised to resist changes that jeopardize international law. They may reject the Bill outright if amendments aimed at strengthening it gain approval.

Former justice secretary Sir Robert Buckland, expressing his concerns on the BBC, stated unequivocally, “If any of the amendments promoted by some colleagues pass, then there’s no way I can vote for this Bill at third reading.”

The battle lines are drawn, with the fate of the Rwanda Bill hanging in the balance. As the rebellion gains momentum, the coming week promises to be a critical chapter in the ongoing saga, testing the unity of the Conservative party and the resilience of the Chancellor’s flagship legislation.